In-form Nannes on tenterhooks as IPL auction looms

PACEMAN Dirk Nannes says his stellar season for Sydney Thunder was triggered by finally learning how to overcome the physical hindrances of being a freelance member of ''the Twenty20 roadshow''.

The revitalised 36-year-old reinforced his position among Australia's elite - and fastest - T20 bowlers by claiming 11 wickets in eight matches and boasting an enviable economy rate of 6.5 runs an over for the hapless Thunder.

Left-armer Nannes, who lives in England with his family when he is not engaged in various T20 competitions around the world, said he was relieved to have finally ''sorted out'' how to maintain peak fitness without having a full-time contract, as he had in Victoria before pursuing a specialist T20 career.

''A lot of people take for granted the fact they have a base to come back to,'' he said after finishing his Big Bash season with 1-18 from four overs against Melbourne Stars. ''If they get injured they come back, if their shoulder's sore they've got someone to go to who knows their body.

''I'm my own boss. If I'm in the UK and I don't want to train there's nobody to tell me off. I had to get myself a decent physio, find myself a decent gym, that sort of stuff, and also how to cope with extended breaks. But I've worked it all out now and I feel great for it. I'm doing a lot of sprinting and it seems that when I'm running well I'm bowling well.''

Having been released by Bangalore late last year, Nannes said it was immensely important for his career that he excelled in the Big Bash, before next month's Indian Premier League auction.

''For someone who hangs their hat on being a Twenty20 player, for the sake of my family the IPL is a huge thing for me,'' he said. ''You're only as good as your last tournament - fortunately my last performance was good and my last tournament was good.

''That was one of my personal goals, to bowl well in the tournament so I show all the franchises I'm a viable option. Having been moved on from the [Melbourne] Renegades, you've got a bit of a score to settle, to show everyone you've still got it - and I reckon I've done that. Personally that's a tick, but of course it's terrible going into the [Thunder] change rooms when you're losing every game.''

Nannes said the next few weeks would be nerve-racking as he awaited the IPL auction but he would attempt to ignore that pressure for as long as possible. ''Cricket has so many highs and lows. It takes you all over the world but it smashes you in the face when you least expect it. You've just got to roll with the punches,'' he said. ''There's every chance your name can come up and you go for a big sum and there's every chance you don't go at all.''

Twitter -@Jesse_Hogan

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